MONTEVALLO, Ala. - The No. 18-ranked Lander women's basketball team used a crushing second half Saturday afternoon to stretch its winning streak to 15 games in a 78-55 Peach Belt Conference victory over the University of Montevallo at Trustmark Arena.

Lander improves to 15-2 overall and 8-0 in the PBC, while Montevallo drops to 1-14, 0-8.

Portia McCray posted a double-double with 20 points and 13 rebounds to lead five Lady Bearcats in double figures. McCray connected on 8-of-14 floor shots and 4-of-8 free throws while pulling down nine offensive rebounds. Aarika Judge added 14 points, six assists and four steals, while Breshay Johnson hadd 11 points and eight rebounds, and Ty'hesha Reynolds and Briana Gipson 11 points each.

Jacquelyn Thompson was the Lady Falcons' lone player in double figures with 15 points. Katherine Goldsby led Montevallo in rebounds with six.

The Lady Bearcats, who won the battle of the boards, 57-38, were 31-of-86 from the field (36 percent), including 7-of-37 threes (18.9 percent), and 9-of-20 free throws (45 percent).

The Falcons connected on 21-of-50 field goals (42 percent), 5-of-13 threes (38.5 percent) and 8-of-13 foul shots (61.5 percent).

After holding a slim one-point lead at halftime, 33-32, the Lady Bearcats dominated the Lady Falcons defensively the second half. For the game, Lander scored 36 points off 27 Montevallo turnovers.

Lander opened the second half with an 8-0 run to take at 41-32 lead with 16:54 left in the game. Johnson gave the Lady Bearcats their first double-figure lead when her layup with 15:47 remaining put her team up 44-34.

After Jasmine Thomas cut the Bearcat lead to 46:54 at 10:28, Lander scored 11 unanswered points for a 65-46 advantage with 8:24 left to play.

Gibson gave Lander its biggest lead of the game at 26 points when her layup put Lander up 75-49 with 3:50 left in the game.